Alternative Text Description for Okeechobee Gourd (Endangered)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the known geographic range of the Okeechobee Gourd, an endangered plant species, within the southeastern United States. The map shows two distinct polygonal areas where this species is documented to occur according to United States Fish and Wildlife Service data for Florida. The map focuses on portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, with particular emphasis on central Florida where the primary habitat areas are located.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers portions of the southeastern United States, extending from southern Georgia and South Carolina in the north to southern Florida in the south. Major cities labeled on the map include Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Warner Robins, Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The Atlantic Ocean is visible along the eastern edge, and the Gulf of America appears along Florida's western coast. The map provides context across multiple states but focuses on Florida, where the endangered species habitat is concentrated.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Okeechobee Gourd has an extremely limited geographic range, with only two small habitat areas visible on this regional map. The primary concentration appears in central Florida, south of Orlando and near the Lake Okeechobee region. A secondary, much smaller area is located in central Florida between Orlando and the Tampa Bay area. The species' range is highly fragmented and geographically restricted, reflecting its endangered status. No populations are shown in Georgia, South Carolina, or northern Florida, indicating the species' limited distribution is confined to central and southern portions of the Florida peninsula.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Okeechobee Gourd (Endangered) Habitat Areas

This layer represents the documented geographic boundaries where the endangered Okeechobee Gourd species occurs.

Okeechobee Gourd Habitat Polygons (pink/magenta shading with diagonal line pattern)

Appearance:

The habitat areas are shown as filled polygons with a pink or light magenta color and a diagonal line hatch pattern overlay.

Distribution:

Two separate polygonal areas are shown in central Florida. The larger polygon is located in south-central Florida, positioned west of West Palm Beach and south of Orlando, in the general vicinity of Lake Okeechobee. The smaller polygon is situated in central Florida, roughly between Orlando and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area.

Notable locations:

The larger southern habitat area is positioned inland from Florida's southeastern coast, in what appears to be the region surrounding Lake Okeechobee. The smaller northern habitat area is located in the central Florida interior, west of Orlando.

Spatial patterns:

The two habitat areas are geographically separated from each other, indicating fragmented populations. Both areas are relatively compact polygons rather than elongated or linear features. The habitat areas are isolated within the broader landscape, with significant distances between them and no visible connection or corridor. This fragmentation pattern is characteristic of endangered species with restricted and declining ranges.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are visible as only a single thematic layer is displayed on this map.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents species boundary data as understood and maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for endangered species monitoring in Florida. The polygonal boundaries represent the known or documented range of the species rather than individual plant locations. The extremely limited extent of these habitat areas visually reinforces the endangered status of the Okeechobee Gourd. Base map features including cities, state boundaries, and coastlines are shown for geographic reference and orientation but are not part of the thematic endangered species data layer.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and represents polygonal boundaries for endangered species as documented for the State of Florida. The source layer is CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

This map displays only records where the common name equals 'OKEECHOBEE GOURD', filtering the broader endangered species dataset to show only this specific species.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a regional scale covering multiple states in the southeastern United States. This scale is appropriate for showing the overall geographic distribution of the species but does not provide site-level habitat details.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The source data layer is dated July 2025 (CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25), indicating the species boundaries reflect information current as of that date.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent documented species range as understood by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and may not capture all locations where individual plants occur. The boundaries represent general habitat areas rather than precise locations of every plant. Data accuracy depends on survey coverage and reporting, and some suitable habitat areas may not be represented if the species presence has not been documented or reported.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from northern Georgia in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the southeast, covering portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and the entire state of Florida. The Atlantic Ocean forms the eastern boundary and the Gulf of America forms the western and southern boundaries of the mapped area.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.